Blog
Quad Cities Chamber Blog
QC, That's Where the Quad Cities Chamber and area businesses in our family of communities are advancing regional prosperity and advocating for economic growth along the Mississippi River.
Want to stay informed? Here's how.
Quad Cities Chamber advocates for regional priorities on Capitol Hill
April 17, 2026
Members of the Quad Cities Chamber and a delegation of local business leaders met with Iowa and Illinois members of Congress to advance federal priorities that support economic growth, workforce readiness and long-term regional competitiveness.
Weekly Economic Trends and Indicators
April 15, 2026
January is typically the seasonal low for employment in the Quad Cities, but after seasonal adjustment the numbers are showing signs of improvement. Plus, the latest data revisions going back to 2024 show that the Quad Cities gained more jobs than originally estimated. This week, we discuss where the gains and losses were the largest and what it means going forward.
A strong Board helps QC Chamber be a unifier and amplifier
April 15, 2026
“Strong boards create strong chambers, and strong chambers build strong local economies,” said Peter Tokar III, President & CEO of the Chamber. “We’re here to serve all the businesses of the Quad Cities. It’s important that Board leadership reflects the diversity of our local business community from all angles.”
QC Chamber traveling to Washington D.C. this week for meetings with federal lawmakers
April 13, 2026
Chamber and local business leaders will travel to Washington D.C. this week to advocate for our region. Efforts will focus on federal permitting reform, bipartisan immigration reform and trade tariffs, as well as funding for QC Passenger Rail, Rock Island Arsenal projects and shovel-ready development sites.
Weekly Economic Trends and Indicators
April 8, 2026
U.S. job growth beat expectations by a wide margin in March. How does this impact the outlook? This week, we look at the sectors where job growth is the fastest nationwide and place it in context of inflation and interest rate expectations.
Chamber welcomes 18 new members in March
April 7, 2026
The Chamber extends a warm welcome to the 18 businesses that became members in March.
Weekly Economic Trends and Indicators
April 1, 2026
The price of oil is up due to geopolitical tension. How does the current situation compare with another oil shock in the recent past? Does this raise the likelihood of recession? This week, we look at the data and consider the prospects for growth.
Why restaurants belong at the Chamber table
April 1, 2026
The natural gathering places in the QC are our local restaurants and bars. They’re also where visitors get a first taste of our region and where great conversations, both personal and professional take place. Find out why they're an important part of Chamber membership.
Property tax reform remains a key issue as Iowa legislative season nears end
April 1, 2026
As Iowa’s legislative season winds down, property tax reform remains a priority for the legislature and the QC Chamber continues to track proposals in both Iowa houses. Also on the docket are reforms to expand mental health care and tracking modifications to the IEDA Omnibus Bill.
Chamber travels to Springfield to address Missing Middle housing shortages; pushes momentum for QC Passenger Rail
March 27, 2026
The Quad Cities Chamber and a delegation of more than 10 community leaders, traveled to Springfield to advocate for priorities in our 2026 Legislative Agenda. Meetings were held with officials from the House, Senate and Governor's office to discuss development incentives, workforce issues and the next steps to deliver on the promise of passenger rail to the Quad Cities.
East Moline Mayor Freeman focuses on progress and partnership
March 26, 2026
Mayor Reggie Freeman’s State of the City address underscored a strong commitment to strategic investment, community growth and strengthening East Moline’s business environment.
Weekly Economic Trends and Indicators
March 25, 2026
Nonfarm business productivity in the U.S. slowed in the 4th quarter, but was still strong for all of 2025. Will productivity be affected by higher oil prices, and if so, what are the consequences for the economic outlook? This week, we consider those questions and compare the current situation to a similar historical episode.
Fair Oaks Foods, LLC, finds the right fit in the QC
March 19, 2026
Fair Oaks Foods, LLC, a state-of-the-art food production facility in Davenport, is proud to announce its soft opening. The 150,000 square-foot facility in the Eastern Iowa Industrial Center, which produces fully-cooked strip bacon products, is currently commissioning lines and equipment and training new employees. CEO, Mike Thompson, says the QC was chosen out of 100 locations throughout the U.S.
Why nonprofits belong at the Chamber
March 18, 2026
“Our nonprofit members are such a valuable part of the Chamber,” said Peter Tokar III, President & CEO of the Chamber. “Membership gives them greater visibility to expand their reach, build strong partnerships with community leaders and businesses and gain the resources they need to thrive.”
Weekly Economic Trends and Indicators
March 17, 2026
Data from the Job Openings and Labor Turnover survey for January showed little movement, except for one sector. This week, we look at the industry for which job openings increased the most nationally and whether we are seeing the same pattern locally. We also consider how recent events may impact those jobs over the next few months.
Weekly Economic Trends and Indicators
March 11, 2026
The national employment report disappointed markets last week with an unexpectedly large decrease in job growth across the country. This week we examine which sectors saw the largest declines and consider what it means for interest rate policy.
QC region ranks 5th in Top 10 Mississippi River Corridor metros for economic development projects
March 11, 2026
The Quad Cities region ranks 5th in Top 10 Mississippi River Corridor metros for 2025 economic development projects; Illinois ranks 2nd for Governor's Cups Rankings.
QC Chamber earns U.S. Chamber of Commerce Accreditation ranking
March 10, 2026
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has awarded the QC Chamber the prestigious Accreditation designation in recognition of its sound policies, effective organizational procedures and significant positive impact on the community it serves.
Unlocking the best-kept secrets of your Chamber membership
March 4, 2026
One of our best-kept secrets is that the Chamber has 3,000+ unique visitors per week to our website. Want to turn those visitors into your visitors? It's all included in a Chamber membership.
Weekly Economic Trends and Indicators
March 3, 2026
Nonfarm payroll employment in the Quad Cities area fell slightly in December in line with typical seasonal variation. This week, we look at the sectors where job growth saw the most gains and losses in 2025 and a possible sign of more hiring in 2026.
Category